Thousands of people have gathered in İstanbul\'s Taksim Square today to remember Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was killed in full daylight while coming out of the offices of the weekly he directed, Agos, six years ago. 

The people joining the remembrance ceremony traditionally marched to the Agos headquarters in Şişli, once again demanding justice for Hrant Dink whose murder was not hindered despite the open threats he received from extremist rightist circles until the day he was killed. Dink had been the target of nationalist groups since 2005 when he was convicted for “insulting Turkishness” despite an expert report that he had not committed the said crime.

On 17 January 2012, Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court ruled that there was “no organization” behind Dink\'s murder. Ogün Samast, the teenager who shot the Armenian journalist, was sentenced to 22 years, 10 months in prison, while Yasin Hayal was given an aggravated life sentence on charges of instigation to premeditated murder. He received three months imprisonment for having threatened author Orhan Pamuk and one additional year in jail on the grounds of possessing an unlicensed weapon.

Osman Hayal was acquitted of charges of homicide and of membership of a criminal organization.

Erhan Tuncel was acquitted of charges of membership of an armed terrorist organization and of instigation to homicide.

Tuncel was handed down a prison sentence of ten years and six months on the grounds of the McDonalds bombing.

Salih Hacisalihoğlu was sentenced to 2 months and 15 days behind jail on charges of unlicensed possession of ammunition.

The court verdict was strongly criticized by circles asking for fair trial and justice. 

In September 2010, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey had failed to investigate and prosecute those who were responsible for Dink\'s murder and that this constituted a violation of Dink\'s right to life.